2023 Folsom Family Reunion
Lexington, Kentucky

This year’s reunion is to be held in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. Reunion dates are July 26th through July 30th. This reunion, the 107th, will be held in the city of Lexington, Kentucky, known as the Horse Capital of the World. Reunion headquarters will be the Clarion Hotel Conference Center-North. Hosts Gary and Anna Pike have put together numerous historical and interesting tours for everyone to enjoy. Tours are scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday as noted on the Registration Form.

    Tour Information:
Wednesday we will tour the city of Louisville, home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby. Our tour will give us glimpses of the fabulous old mansions where the bourbon barons and tobacco titans lived and other sites around the city. There will be stops along the way including a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum and lunch on our own in the city.
On Thursday we will travel to The Ark Encounter in nearby Williamstown to see this marvel of construction based on the Genesis flood narrative contained in the Bible. The Ark is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 61 feet high. The exhibits are housed in 132 bays which are 18 feet high on three levels. Other attractions of this theme park include the Ararat Ridge Zoo featuring a petting zoo and a variety of wild animals such as kangaroos and camels. We will eat lunch on the grounds of the Ark Encounter. Choices for dining include Emzara’s Kitchen, a two-story buffet style restaurant, as well as other cafés and snack establishments located on the grounds.
Friday’s tour will be the Lexington Home and Gardens Tour with lunch plans at the Kentucky Castle. |Here we will view the beautiful architecture of this city, including Ashland, the home to Henry Clay, Kentucky’s famous 19th century statesman, and the Mary Todd Lincoln childhood home where she lived before, she married Abraham Lincoln who would become the 16th President of the United States.
Located on the grounds of the University of Kentucky, the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens offer a diverse community of plants from around the globe. The gardens at the Arboretum are designed to stimulate olfactory and visual senses — fragrances, colors, and textures. The Horticultural Gardens are composed of a collection of small gardens, divided into “garden rooms” including a Pond Garden, Herb Garden, Vegetable Garden, Pollinator Garden, and many more.
Lunch will be on our own at the Kentucky Castle. Construction began on this structure in 1969 and though the owners went through obstacles, changes of ownership and name changes it is today a well-known bed and breakfast and special functions facility. Here we will dine at a true farm-to-table restaurant.
On Friday evening there is the option to hop aboard the Old Kentucky Dinner Train which runs 20 miles on the historic Bardstown railroad branch. Beginning at the limestone depot constructed in 1860, the train chugs past the beautifully rustic landscape of the area. The dinner offers four-course menu choices. There are options for drinks which include cocktails and over 35 types of bourbon.
Saturday there is a choice of two tours: a Jim Beam Tour or a Kentucky Horse Farm Tour.
The Jim Beam tour is a hands-on journey through their distillery to see how the Beam family has been making Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky for over two centuries. The tour features many opportunities to learn the long history of their operations. The journey finishes with a guided Kentucky-style bourbon tasting in one of their new tasting rooms at the American Outpost.
Lexington is known for two things: whisky and horses and is called the Horse Capital of the World. It is home to more than 400 horse farms and the well-known Keeneland Racecourse which has been featured in several movies. More Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winners have been bred in this area than anywhere else in the world. The tour will touch on some of the information highlights of the horse farms including the breeding and training of the horses and a visit to the Keeneland Racecourse unless there is a special event or race in progress.

    Headquarters Activities:
Saturday would not be complete without the activities of our Folsom youth to include a Pizza and Pool Party and another exciting Spoons Contest. In the afternoon there will be a Genealogy Meeting. This is a perfect time to bring your family information updates and ancestor photos to scan.
Then Saturday evening, as is tradition, everyone will join together for the Annual Meeting and Banquet where we will enjoy an Old Kentucky buffet dinner. Prior to the banquet a group photo of those in attendance will be taken.
Sunday morning as everyone’s schedule allows, we will have the opportunity to visit and say our good-byes as we gather, at our leisure, for the breakfast buffet.

    Registration Information:
Registration can now be done online at our web site: folsomfamily.org. Click on the National Reunion button and then on Registration. There is also a printable version of the form available should want to mail in your registration.
The deadline for registration is June 20, 2023.
Hotel registration should be made directly to the Clarion Conference Center-North at (859) 233-0512. You MUST ask for the FFA rate. The Room rate is $99.00 per night.

    Hotel Information:
The Clarion Hotel Conference Center – North in Lexington, KY will be the home base for our 107th Folsom Family Reunion. The hotel address is 1950 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511. Our hosts, Gary and Anna Pike, negotiated a great FFA rate at $99 per night.
The hotel is located near the airport and many attractions around the Lexington area. There is so much to do in the area that you might want to extend your stay. Arrangements have been made to be able to extend the FFA rate two days before and/or two days after the reunion but you must request this at the time you make your reservations.
The reunion has a block of rooms for those attending the reunion, but you are encouraged to make your reservations as soon as possible. You MUST ask for the FFA rate when you make those reservations. The hotel is located near I-75 and I-64 at 1950 Newtown Pike in Lexington, within minutes of The Blue Grass Airport. There is currently no hotel shuttle to the airport, but Uber is available if you fly in and don’t rent a car. The amenities at the hotel include free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, large indoor hot tub, sauna, basketball court and other game facilities. There is a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning. The Sedona Taphouse Restaurant is on site. This complex is perfect for bringing the whole family. Remember, make your reservations early and be sure to ask for the FFA rates when calling the hotel directly at (859) 233-0512.